This Toronto District School Board alternative school design program, where students earn high school credits by creating their own brand and running a skateboard business / professional design studio, now offers even more SK8 Entrepreneurship Opportunities & New Courses including SK8 & Art Co-ops, Native SK8 Studies, Physical Arts & Mindful Living...

APPLY NOW!!! (*Info Sessions are held every Wednesday at 9AM in the OSF Classroom during the school year.)

Learn hands-on to build skateboards, design original custom graphics, work with local artists and community partners, market, retail and display your own brand… and have the opportunity to earn $$$!

For Registration Info Contact:

Craig Morrison, Founding Teacher

OSF Classroom: 416-393-0845

craig.morrison@tdsb.on.ca

http://oasisskateboardfactory.blogspot.com

•INFORMATION SESSION DATES for Sem. 2 Registration at Oasis Skateboard Factory: Wednesday Jan 9 & 16 at 9AM or by appointment (Applications Due Jan 18, Interviews Jan 23) *All hour-long info sessions take place in Room 3, Scadding Court Community Centre, 707 Dundas St. West at Bathurst. (Note: Due to space and time constraints, latecomers will have to return for the next scheduled session) -----Note: Spaces are available for young women age 16+ to participate in OSF initiatives promoting women in skateboarding/graffiti.

•Student Criteria for Application to join the OSF Student Design Team: - TDSB student wanting a fresh start - 16+ years of age - Need the credits offered (mostly Gr. 9/10/11 English/Media, Business/Entrepreneurship & Visual Arts/Design) - Able to learn independently & participate as a contributing team member in a community setting - ***Demonstrated interest in visual arts or design, street art and skateboard culture.

I’m Native Canadian from Toronto, Canada and I have been skating for 6 years. This is my first year in Oasis Skateboard Factory.

The graphic on my personal board is native art mixed with street art. I drew this feather graphic over the summer and always wanted a perfect place for it. The Sagamok logo is my reserve. I always love to use the four directions colors in my graphics. I put the four colors as an arrow shape on the bottom of my board to create balance.

The inspiration for my native art ideas came from my mother. I told her how I really wanted a board with some cool native designs but I can never find them in skate magazines or skate shops. When I found out about this school, I knew this was a good opportunity for me to see if people would like my ideas... I found out that people and my teachers love my ideas!

I’m a Toronto born and bred artist and designer inspired by the city and the art that it holds. I’ve been doodling since I was a little kid, but OSF is helping me to go further than that and make art that not only looks good but can be used as design for boards, buttons, and stickers; being able to make the jump from paper to wood grain.

I started with 7 layers of pre-cut Canadian maple and used Roarockit technology to glue and press it into the shape of a pintail. I then tried to find inspiration in the world of skateboard graphics. At first I wanted to do something related to my brand Hood Cats but I saw a lack of bold coloured pattern work in any skateboard design I’ve ever seen. I wanted to make a board that looks like something different to every person. I like to have people tell me what they think it looks like; every time they told me something strange and different.

I’m not sure what I was trying to say with this board. Maybe it’s the sense of not knowing what it is that I think will draw people in. I want people to be able to always see something new in this board. I’m kind of sick of skateboard designs that make sense. I want to put something no one would ever expect to find on a board into my design. This board was a lot of fun to make and I am looking forward to my next one!

I have been going to Oasis Skateboard Factory alternative school for about a year and half. Throughout
these years I have learned how to make custom boards and long boards. Since
returning for the third semester, my last semester at this school, I have become
a leadership student and had the chance to work with Ted from Roarrockit.
During our sessions at Roarrockit we learned new techniques for building boards
and applied them to our own dream board.

The shape of this board is
a mini-cruiser. I got inspiration from Penny skateboards and their vinyl decks.
I used 6 plies instead of 7 considering how small the deck is: the
durability and flex were not affected. The design I chose to put on my custom
board is a snake cut up into the different boroughs of Toronto. I got this idea
from a NYC skateboard brand called 5BoroNYC. I wanted to do the same kind of
design that they did for their company, but applying our city’s sections.

I wanted to keep the
design very simple and monotone. I used only 2 colors: green and black. I let the grain of the wood show through as well. Overall, I think that I did a
good job on the graphic and learned a lot as well. The whole experience working
with Ted, this school, and teacher Craig Morrison has been great and I would defiantly
recommend this alternative school to anyone that is into graphic design!

I have been at OSF for 3 semesters and they truly have been wonderful! The experience this school has given me is such a blessing.

The way our school operates is just fantastic and the students are out going and I could never be happier at any other school than this one. My brand Thumper is based on my nickname that’s been with me for many years. My brand (and marks!) have improved since I started here; all my designs have improved which is why this board is the best I’ve made so far. If you look at my previous boards on our website you can see that this is the most creative and innovative one I have made yet.

THMPR “Rabbit Foot” Custom is made with Canadian hard-rock maple and both top and bottom have “Rockitlam” on it, one of the many cool products that Roarockit Skateboard Company produces. I made a stencil out of masking tape to make the lines that represent the fur on the rabbit foot. I cut it out and then sprayed primer before applying black and gray spray paint. Ted, the owner of Roarockit has taught me many wise tricks since I have been job shadowing him. He has been a generous person to give his time to teach me how to make such an epic board.

I truly love this board. It’s so light, easy to carry and it truly represents my brand. If you would like a custom THMPR board made for you, contact the school…hop to it and get the imprint of the rabbit foot on your next skateboard!

I’m 17 years old and I’ve
been to three different high schools over the last four years. The first two I
attended weren’t for me so I kept looking for a school where I could pursue my
dreams. Then I found Oasis Skateboard Factory.

It’s now my first semester
at OSF. We started off building and designing a personal board and marketing
our own brands. The brand that I designed is called Smilez. The brand represents my personality and the
important people in my life who are always smiling. They are the people that
keep me going. I decided to use Smilez for my brand because I wanted to send out a message to people that Smilez is about wearing a smile: the best thing you can
wear everyday!

For my personal board I
chose to make a pintail longboard. It’s made of seven layers of hard-rock maple
and pressed with Roarockit air press technology. For the first step of the
graphic, I stained the wood black. The second step was to stencil the design of
the three characters. These characters are a representation of people in my
life who inspire me. The third step was to stencil the background design, which
was a graffiti piece representing my brand Smilez. I had the letters wrap around the board so it would
just look like a design rather than letters.

This is my first board I
made at OSF and I’m really proud of the outcome of the design. I’ve already
learned so many new things this semester and look forward to what Oasis has in
store for me!

Learn hands-on to build skateboards, design original custom graphics, work with local artists and community partners, market, retail and display your own brand… and have the opportunity to earn $$$!

For Registration Info Contact:

Craig Morrison, Founding Teacher

OSF Classroom: 416-393-0845

craig.morrison@tdsb.on.ca

http://oasisskateboardfactory.blogspot.com

•INFORMATION SESSION DATES for Sem. 2 Registration at Oasis Skateboard Factory: Wednesday Jan 9 & 16 at 9AM or by appointment (Applications Due Jan 17, Interviews Jan 18) *All hour-long info sessions take place in Room 3, Scadding Court Community Centre, 707 Dundas St. West at Bathurst. (Note: Due to space and time constraints, latecomers will have to return for the next scheduled session) -----Note: Spaces are available for young women age 16+ to participate in OSF initiatives promoting women in skateboarding/graffiti.

•Student Criteria for Application to join the OSF Student Design Team: - TDSB student wanting a fresh start - 16+ years of age - Need the credits offered (mostly Gr. 9/10/11 English/Media, Business/Entrepreneurship & Visual Arts/Design) - Able to learn independently & participate as a contributing team member in a community setting - ***Demonstrated interest in visual arts or design, street art and skateboard culture.

OSF CO-OP

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Upcoming Events & Announcements

OSF COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEETINGS for 2017/18: All Parents, Students, Community Partners and OSF Supporters are invited to participate in the OSF Community Council. The OSF Community Council’s mandate is to provide a safety net to support our students and to enrich their experience of success in the school and community. Meeting #1 at Open House Thursday Oct 12, 6-8pm in the OSF Classroom, Meeting #2: Thursday November 9 at Roarockit 880 Millwood 7-9pm, Meeting #3: Thursday January 11 at Roarockit 880 Millwood 7-9pm, OSF Sem 1 Pop-Up Shop: Friday January 26 at Anomaly 46 Spadina Suite 200 Meeting #4: Thursday March 1 at Roarockit 880 Millwood 7-9pm, Meeting #5: Thursday March 22 at Roarockit 880 Millwood 7-9pm, Roarockit hosted Auction for OSF at Gladstone Hotel: Thursday April 12 7-10PM, Meeting #6: Thursday May 3 at Roarockit 880 Millwood 7-9pm GRAD BBQ/Sem 2 Pop Up Shop & Community Celebration: Friday June 15 at Anomaly 46 Spadina 6-8pm

OSF is actively looking for Creative Youth to join our Student Design Team! *All hour-long, drop-in INFORMATION SESSIONS take place on Wednesdays at 9:00AM sharp in Room 3, Scadding Court Community Centre, 707 Dundas St. West at Bathurst during the school year during scheduled classes (no sessions during exam periods). (Note: Due to space and time constraints, latecomers will have to return for the next scheduled session during the school year) --- Contact Craig at 416-393-0845 or craig.morrison@tdsb.on.ca

Picture You in the Crew: Student Criteria for Application to join the OSF Student Design Team: ---Looking to be a part of a TDSB alternative school that does only real-world projects? ---Stoked about visual arts, design, street art and skateboard culture? ---Able to learn/work independently and participate as a contributing team member in a community setting? ---16+ years of age? ---Note: Spaces are available for young women in OSF programs promoting women in skateboarding/graffiti. APPLY NOW!!!

Fall 2012 Announcement: OSF Teachers have put in a proposal to the TDSB to create a new alternative school. The OSF Storefront School is proposed as a new alternative school based on the success of the Oasis Skateboard Factory reengagement program that will continue to help students explore the connections between Creativity and Entrepreneurship by running our SK8 & Street Art Design Services as a Social Enterprise in a storefront featuring a retail space, gallery and workshop. If you can support us in making our proposal a reality, please contact us!

OSF Classroom Location:

Map by "Hey Apathy!"

Your Support can be Awesome!

GET ON BOARD...Make a Donation as a Community Collaborator!

We are currently looking for new Community Collaborators to make donations to support the continued enrichment of our students' experiences in this unique program, including support for the healthy daily lunch and materials used to expand our students' skills in art/design and other curricular areas. Many of our Community Collaborators are also mentors that give students the opportunity to develop transferable creative and entrepreneurial skills.

Now Registering Students!

Bored of Education?...

Skateboard of Education!!!

As of September 2009, Room 3 in the Scadding Court Community Centre will house the Oasis Skateboard Factory reengagement program.

As the first school site in the TDSB and the world fully dedicated to offering all subjects with a skateboard design and street art focus, the Oasis Skateboard Factory helps students earn Gr. 9-12 compulsory & elective high-school credits by running an entrepreneurial business where they learn hands-on to build skateboards, design original custom graphics, work with local artists and community collaborators, market and display their work and have the opportunity to receive an honorarium.

For more info or to apply, call the OSF Classroom at 416-393-0845 of drop in to one of our Info Sessions held every Wednesday at 9AM in the classroom during the school year.

craig.morrison@tdsb.on.ca

Innovation in Education!

Interested in our Innovation in Education Consultation Service, SK8 & Street Art Design Services, Teacher or Student-led Workshops, or just want more Information on the school program at OSF?

Contact Craig Morrison (Founding Teacher)

in the Classroom (416) 393-0845

craig.morrison@tdsb.on.ca

Roarockit inspired the OSF and thousands of board builders in schools and community contexts...

History of the Oasis Skateboard Factory?

In November 2006, twenty students completed a successful month-long pilot project on skateboard design as part of the new Arts & Social Change Program. With Toronto District School Board and Toronto Foundation for Student Success funding to extend the project, an art room at Oasis Alternative S.S. was transformed into a skateboard/longboard design studio where students ran a skateboard building and graphic design cooperative business. Drawing on the expertise of artist/teacher Craig Morrison with support from designers Norah Jackson & Ted Hunter (Roarockit Skateboard Company), students learned through the hands-on experience of constructing and shaping their own original skateboard decks, designing and applying stencil graffiti style graphics and displaying, marketing and selling their creations by outreaching to the local school community of the Queen St. Arts & Design District and beyond.
In September 2009, the OSF expanded programming into a classroom in the Scadding Court Community Centre (located at Dunbat Skate Park), becoming one of the world's first skateboard design high school sites where students earn credits through this unique focus.

Slo_Skate Movement: Making Skateboards / Building Community

Working with Sponsors & Clients

After creating a portfolio of their own personal designs and mastering the skills required to successfully make their own skateboards, students then look for community or local business partners to sponsor or purchase other skateboards. Students negotiate the design of a street or longboard style board with their sponsor/client and display the results at a local gallery. Students receive an honorarium for their work from the money raised and students participate in a photo opportunity with the sponsor/client when they deliver the finished deck.

All Parents, Students, Community Partners and OSF Supporters are invited to participate in the OSF Community Council. The OSF Community Council’s mandate is to provide a safety net to support our students and to enrich their experience of success in the school and community.